Local student wins Habitat contest

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This article was published 10/06/2022 (1215 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CODY SELLAR

STAFF REPORTER

ST. BONIFACE

Home is a word that cannot be contained in four walls, wrote 10-year-old Ada Leonard. The Grade 5 student at École Sacré-Coeur composed these wise words as part of the Meaning of Home contest, which her teacher had introduced to the class.

Each year, the nationwide contest run by Habitat for Humanity Canada asks students in grades four, five, and six to write about what home means to them.

Leonard’s poem “H.O.M.E.” made her one of three runners up for her grade. The spot came with several prizes: a tablet for Leonard, a pizza party for her class, and $10,000 for the St. Boniface-based Habitat for Humanity Manitoba.

“It feels really good because I feel like I made a difference in someone’s life,” Leonard said.

While the rewards of the young wordsmith’s work will go towards erecting physical structures, Leonard’s vision of home had more to do with what goes on inside them.

“It’s a space full of love and a place that you can be yourself in, and you can stay happy and healthy,” Leonard said, with an enviable self-assuredness.

Going through the entries, it becomes clear the idea of home is elastic. Each child has their own definition — one likely reflective of their experience.

“Before I even realized it was a contest, I read it. Tears came to my eyes because it was beautiful,” said Leonard’s mother, Karin Kliewer.

Kliewer, who has worked with Habitat for Humanity overseas, said she’s ecstatic to see her daughter make an impact.

“I’m super proud. I couldn’t be more proud of Ada,” she said.

Leonard said her love of reading helped her with her writing. She’s gobbled up the Harry Potter books and is now midway through another fantasy series, The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani.

Each submission, whether or not it won or was a runner up, garnered $10 for a local Habitat for Humanity.

Sandy Hopkins, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity Manitoba, called Leonard’s piece “beautiful” and praised the contest as a whole.

“It’s a very great way for the kids to think through how important home is. They live there, they go to school, but maybe they’ve never actually thought about articulating what it means to them,” he said.

He said he’s thrilled that children like Leonard have brought in money to the organization, which will help people in need here in Manitoba.

Across the country, submissions raised over $311,000. Read submissions at www.meaningofhome.ca